I honestly can’t believe it’s been a month since the Bulldog Trail Run 25K took place and I still can’t believe I did it!! The past few weeks have been the most seriously exhausting, fun filled weeks I’ve had all year so getting around to writing up my thoughts on my first trail run kept
getting pushed back further and further down on my “To Do” list. Well, I’m finally ready to cross it off!
getting pushed back further and further down on my “To Do” list. Well, I’m finally ready to cross it off!
A beautiful foggy, cool morning!
Yes, just a few short weeks ago I ran, walked, and hiked, the Bulldog Trail Run 25K and I
survived!! When I think about how the Bulldog run went, all I can think about is how I’ve done quite a few races, and this one, by far, was the toughest race I have ever participated in!! By Far! What did I expect though? This course climbs and climbs and never ends with climbs. However, I couldn’t have expected a nicer day – because it turned out perfectly!
survived!! When I think about how the Bulldog run went, all I can think about is how I’ve done quite a few races, and this one, by far, was the toughest race I have ever participated in!! By Far! What did I expect though? This course climbs and climbs and never ends with climbs. However, I couldn’t have expected a nicer day – because it turned out perfectly!
For the few months prior to the race, I’ve only heard and read about how to prepare for the heat with this race. Get that heat training in! The heat, the heat, the heat! Make sure you do your due diligence because it’s going to be cuh-razy hot!! Well it wasn’t. Arriving at the Malibu Creek State Park, the weather was foggy and cool and it stayed that way for most of the race. Luckily, I prepared for this so-called heat and I thanked my lucky stars it backed off this day…or at least waited until I was almost done with the run.
The gang’s all here, let’s go!!
Once we got close to the start time, final race instructions were given: Follow the pink arrows. If you see another arrow of a different color, don’t follow it. What color are the arrows? Pink! Follow the orange tags. If you see a tag of a different color, don’t follow it. What color are the tags? Orange! I felt pretty confident at this point. And then we were off…
The course itself was another matter entirely. Even though I prepared
for the heat, and got a little glimpse of the course a few weeks prior, I wasn’t quite prepared for all those hills! This is a mountain for crissakes so I knew it wasn’t going to be flat, but those climbs just about nearly killed me. They would just never end!! I was warned about them so I wasn’t entirely shocked but these climbs were no joke! Welcome to trail running!! Now I know how to better prepare for next year’s race. Ooh, did I just say that? Better hold that thought.
for the heat, and got a little glimpse of the course a few weeks prior, I wasn’t quite prepared for all those hills! This is a mountain for crissakes so I knew it wasn’t going to be flat, but those climbs just about nearly killed me. They would just never end!! I was warned about them so I wasn’t entirely shocked but these climbs were no joke! Welcome to trail running!! Now I know how to better prepare for next year’s race. Ooh, did I just say that? Better hold that thought.
What have I gotten myself into?
The look of someone who has no idea of what is yet to come.
Muahahaha!! Sucka!!
Hellooooooo!!
Is that supposed to be the ocean over there?
I was surely thankful for the overcast, but it seriously clouded the scenery. I wanted to see those spectacular views I heard people talk about. I got some, but not a whole lot. Eh, I guess I’d take the cooler weather rather than the hot sun beaming down on me for 4 hours.
Taking the long way home.
Wait! Do you know how I get home?
The sun did eventually come out and I was able to have some pretty awesome views. This is definitely one of the best reasons to take up trail running. You just don’t get these views on the road.
Whoa, I still have to run down the mountain?
Once I got up most of the climbs it was time to head downhill. What goes up must come down, right? The downhill portions made my quads seriously whimper. Also, I was thoroughly convinced I would be facing some very bruised and blackened toenails once this race was over but nope, didn’t happen. I guess I was kinda surprised by that. I thought for sure I would be losing a toenail but all toenails are still attached…all 9 of them. Yay!! Oh wait. Whew! No, they’re all still there. Yes 10. 🙂
Somewhere around mile 6 or so I ended up befriending a very nice woman
who talked the whole time for the duration of the race. At times I just wanted
a little quiet and her constant talking made me think she could obviously go
a whole lot faster and get this thing over with. She didn’t though. She hung
out with me and in the end I was extremely grateful for her presence. She made
the race a whole lot more enjoyable because I didn’t have to be inside my head
for 4 hours trying to convince myself to just stop and not finish the race. Of
course if I just stopped, how would I get back to the starting/finish area –
I’m on a mountain?!
who talked the whole time for the duration of the race. At times I just wanted
a little quiet and her constant talking made me think she could obviously go
a whole lot faster and get this thing over with. She didn’t though. She hung
out with me and in the end I was extremely grateful for her presence. She made
the race a whole lot more enjoyable because I didn’t have to be inside my head
for 4 hours trying to convince myself to just stop and not finish the race. Of
course if I just stopped, how would I get back to the starting/finish area –
I’m on a mountain?!
She even pointed out something kinda funny. It was an odd looking rock and then I realized, Hey! That rock looks like a shark eating some kale!! I guess Finding Nemo was right and sharks are vegetarian. 😉
After the race was over I was asked by a fellow LA Legger, if I would run this race again next year? Umm, good question! My initial response was, “Let me forget about this one first!” This race was by no means easy and portions of it were very rocky, and I nearly had to cling to a giant rock because I took one look to my left and saw this drop-off. I have a little fear of heights so this part really froze me in my tracks. Thinking about this area makes me not want to do it again. But we’ll see. Let me forget about this one first. 🙂
Too tired to even show the medal.
My first trail race is officially in the books!